The OnLLLine Chronicle: Issue #2, October 2002

The OnLLLine Chronicle is a free monthly e-newsletter from La Leche League International, an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. We will share updates on LLLI's activities, new products, and other breastfeeding-related news. Thank you for subscribing, and hope you enjoy our news and information!

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*Thirteen additional LLL Groups have their own Web pages, listing meeting dates and time, as well as local LLL telephone contacts. If you want to find out about a Group near YOU, visit our index of Group and Affiliate pages at http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebIndex.html

*Additional Spanish translations of items from the August-September 2002 issue of LEAVEN, LLL's magazine for its Leaders are now listed in our collection of materials in Spanish, including a chapter from Diana West's book, DEFINING YOUR OWN SUCCESS: BREASTFEEDING AFTER BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY. Read them at http://www.lalecheleague.org/LangEspanol.html#lv

3. NEWS FROM THE LLLI PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Coming soon in NEW BEGINNINGS:

Ideas from our readers on building a circle of friends when you're an at-home mother and getting your baby to take a bottle when you're working outside the home.

NEW BEGINNINGS is the LLLI publication for members, in the USA and many other locations. It features breastfeeding information and wonderful stories from mothers around the world. Contact your local LLL representative to join and see if you will receive it as part of your membership. You can also read past articles on our Web site. See http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb.html for details! To find your local LLL Group or Leader, visit our information page at http://www.lalecheleague.org/leaderinfo.html

The November issue of BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS will feature information on Vitamin D supplementation and the breastfed infant.

BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS is an LLLI publication featuring articles on technical topics, reviews of professional books on breastfeeding, and short abstracts of current articles of interest to health care providers and lay breastfeeding supporters. Some articles from past issues are available on our Web site at http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/ba.html.

Revised BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK available soon.

Incorporates newest research on controversial issues such as vitamin D supplementation of the breastfed baby, hormonal approaches for inducing lactation, and new treatment options for damaged nipples. Integrates ground-breaking discoveries about breast structure and function made by Dr. Peter Hartmann and his team. Offers new information on prescription and herbal galactagogues, positioning and latch-on, the use of nipple shields, and the importance of human milk. Includes all new AAP list of medications and their effects on the breastfeeding infant. Every chapter has been reviewed and updated. Also available on interactive CD-ROM. Order after November 1.

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4. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: CAN YOU GET PREGNANT WHILE BREASTFEEDING?

The short answer is "Yes". It is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding can be used as part of your family planning technique. As a matter of fact, if you can answer yes to the following three questions, your risk of pregnancy is less than two percent.

1. Is your infant less than six months old?
2. Are you amenorrheic, that is, are your menstrual periods absent?
3. Is your baby breastfeeding around the clock without receiving other foods, beverages or pacifiers?

5. CHANGES IN ONLINE LLL CHATS

Our Web-based chats on the Oxygen Web site were canceled last month, due to a change in their policy, but we are happy to announce we are continuing chats at the same days and times -- Mondays at 3pm Eastern time (US) and Tuesdays at 10pm Eastern time. Chats will be held using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) Software, which is free. To join in these chats, please visit our instructions page at http://www.lalecheleague.org/chat/aimchat.html and be sure to invite your friends who may have no access to local LLL meetings!

Our AOL-only chats that were being hosted on the Parent Soup Web site have also been canceled, as of October 23. We are working to arrange for additional AIM chats, which will be accessible to all AOL members as well as others, to make up for the loss of these chats. We will announce our plans as soon as they are complete.

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6. HELP US SUPPORT MOTHERS ONLINE!

As the previous article explained, in the past month, the Web sites that have hosted our online LLL chats have canceled both our web-based chats and our America Online chats. Over 150 women per month had been attending these popular online breastfeeding help forums. LLLI would like to host our own chats on our own server, but we will need additional funds to purchase the needed software to set it up (from $500-$1,000US depending on what we actually set up). If you, your business, or a corporation or foundation you know of is interested in making a donation toward this project, or can donate chat software, please contact Funding Development & Advancement Director Sharon Bell-Willson at sbell-wilson at llli.org, or phone her at 847-519-7730 x 240. For more information on our needs, contact On-line Communications Manager Sue Ann Kendall at sak at llli.org. Our chat hosts want to help mothers -- please consider helping us find a permanent home for our online meetings!

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7. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Peer Counselor and Peer Counselor Administrator Workshops

LLLI Peer Counselor Programs have had a good fall season. Look for the upcoming 2003 dates on the website and in NEW BEGINNINGS. We are currently able to offer CERPs for both courses and are pursuing ADA and DONA continuing education credits. To set up a training in your area or for yourself, please contact Kathy Baker at LLLI, 1400 N Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 847-519-7730, kbaker at llli.org for more information.

Area Conferences

In many parts of the world, La Leche League is organized into "Areas" (in the US usually corresponding to states, parts of states, or groups of states). LLL Areas hold conferences periodically, where parents, LLL members, and LLL Leaders can come be surrounded by like-minded friends and learn more about breastfeeding and parenting. There are Area Conferences in the following locations in the next few months:

8. LLLI ALUMNAE TRIP A HUGE SUCCESS

Thirty-seven LLLI Alumnae members, ranging in age from 30-something to 68 years of age, joined together on the 10-year reunion Women's Journey, hiking down the 8-mile Hasvasupai Trail in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, September 25th-29th. It was an incredible experience for all involved as we enjoyed the beauty of the red canyon walls, the blue, blue sky, and the blue-green waters and waterfalls! Hiker Edna Kelly expressed to all her fellow hikers: "Thank you for a wonderful, empowering experience. So unique to experience the hike with a group of 37 friends....a real advantage of breastfeeding!" (That is most likely not a documented advantage of breastfeeding!) Pam Bridgmon and Joan Meyer, who both live in Arizona coordinated the hike. Watch for the next issue of CONTINUUM with photos and more details of this adventure!

We appreciate your support, whether as a friend, a member, or a volunteer.

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